Spartanburg holds second public meeting on water transfer payment

Published: Thursday, May 2, 2013 at 9:34 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, May 2, 2013 at 9:34 p.m.

Spartanburg City Council continued its public campaign Thursday night to convince its constituents that the Commission of Public Works is making a $1.4 million mistake.

City residents own the water system and the commission — citing budget concerns — has said it would cut the transfer payment it makes to the city's general fund by $200,000 next year and continue to reduce it by $100,000.

City Council maintains the Water System's budget is continuing to rise and commissioners could choose other cost-savings measures other than cutting the transfer payment.

Thursday's meeting was the second of four city-sponsored meetings. No commissioners attended either meeting, although Spartanburg Water General Manager Sue Schneider said city staff didn't attempt to coordinate suitable dates and times with commissioners in advance.

In response, City Communications Manager Will Rothschild said he would question whether one is suitable for public service if they can't attend at least one of four meetings.

About 35 people attended Thursday's meeting held at Spartanburg High School. Assistant City Manager Chris Story gave a historical overview of the city's relationship with the water commission after Mayor Junie White urged attendees to get involved and attend commission meetings.

“There are three commissioners — John Montgomery, Linda Bilanchone and Myles Whitlock — they are commissioners elected by the city to look after the water system on our behalf and they're not doing it,” White said.

White said the commissioners should be under the same scrutiny as City Council.

“Every time we make a move, someone questions it,” he said. “They need some scrutiny. Go to meetings.”

Following Story's presentation, several audience members asked various questions on how the water system was formed, whether all financial statements were available to the public and what citizens could do to remedy the situation.

“It's leverage that we have, but it's not healthy leverage,” Story said. “We don't want them to fail. We want them to be able to do what they need to do to stay healthy.”

The commissioners have said their goals are to provide safe, quality drinking water to its customers, not to continue transferring $1.4 million to the city's general fund. The commissioners have said that it has aging infrastructure and deferred maintenance and continuing to transfer the funds to the city would drive water rates up.

Story said he didn't know “on what planet” could revenues increase while one dividend — or transfer payment — stays flat, causing water rates to increase.

Spartanburg Water's proposed budget for 2014 is on its website, www.spartanburgwater.org, and they have asked for the public to send comments or call 580-2525 to leave feedback.

The city has two additional meetings scheduled for May 7 at the Cleveland Academy of Leadership and on May 9 Woodland Heights Recreational Center. Both meetings start at 7 p.m.

<p>Spartanburg City Council continued its public campaign Thursday night to convince its constituents that the Commission of Public Works is making a $1.4 million mistake.</p><p>City residents own the water system and the commission — citing budget concerns — has said it would cut the transfer payment it makes to the city's general fund by $200,000 next year and continue to reduce it by $100,000.</p><p>City Council maintains the Water System's budget is continuing to rise and commissioners could choose other cost-savings measures other than cutting the transfer payment.</p><p>Thursday's meeting was the second of four city-sponsored meetings. No commissioners attended either meeting, although Spartanburg Water General Manager Sue Schneider said city staff didn't attempt to coordinate suitable dates and times with commissioners in advance.</p><p>In response, City Communications Manager Will Rothschild said he would question whether one is suitable for public service if they can't attend at least one of four meetings.</p><p>About 35 people attended Thursday's meeting held at Spartanburg High School. Assistant City Manager Chris Story gave a historical overview of the city's relationship with the water commission after Mayor Junie White urged attendees to get involved and attend commission meetings.</p><p>“There are three commissioners — John Montgomery, Linda Bilanchone and Myles Whitlock — they are commissioners elected by the city to look after the water system on our behalf and they're not doing it,” White said.</p><p>White said the commissioners should be under the same scrutiny as City Council.</p><p>“Every time we make a move, someone questions it,” he said. “They need some scrutiny. Go to meetings.”</p><p>Following Story's presentation, several audience members asked various questions on how the water system was formed, whether all financial statements were available to the public and what citizens could do to remedy the situation.</p><p>Dr. Harold Nixon asked whether the city could withhold bond authority.</p><p>“It's leverage that we have, but it's not healthy leverage,” Story said. “We don't want them to fail. We want them to be able to do what they need to do to stay healthy.”</p><p>The commissioners have said their goals are to provide safe, quality drinking water to its customers, not to continue transferring $1.4 million to the city's general fund. The commissioners have said that it has aging infrastructure and deferred maintenance and continuing to transfer the funds to the city would drive water rates up.</p><p>Story said he didn't know “on what planet” could revenues increase while one dividend — or transfer payment — stays flat, causing water rates to increase.</p><p>Spartanburg Water's proposed budget for 2014 is on its website, www.spartanburgwater.org, and they have asked for the public to send comments or call 580-2525 to leave feedback.</p><p>The city has two additional meetings scheduled for May 7 at the Cleveland Academy of Leadership and on May 9 Woodland Heights Recreational Center. Both meetings start at 7 p.m.</p>